Political India: Engaging America

From The Hindu

In a continuing crackdown on top al-Qaeda operatives, the United States and the United Nations have applied terrorism sanctions against Abdallah Hasan Abu-al-Khayr, Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law.

The U.S. Treasury Department said this week that it had “designated” Mr. al-Khayr, widely acknowledged to be a key leader of the al-Qaeda’s finance section. With this designation, the Treasury has the right to freeze any assets that Mr. al-Khayr has under U.S. jurisdiction and it will also prohibit U.S. entities and individuals from engaging in any transactions with him.

Additionally, the UN Sanctions Committee took similar action against Mr. al-Khayr for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts... on behalf or in support of” al-Qaeda.

In a statement, the UN said that as the head of al-Qaeda’s finance section, Mr. al-Khayr transferred many thousands of dollars in preparation for a terrorist attack and also played leadership role on the terrorist organisation’s media committee.

Further, a UN official said, Mr. al-Khayr engaged in recruitment for al Qaeda on at least one occasion. Also as the son-in-law of Osama bin Laden he was thought to have acted as a bodyguard to bin Laden and a “caretaker of his wives.” Mr. al-Khayr’s relationship with al-Qaeda was said to have begun when he underwent military training with the group in the mid-1990s.

In applying the designation to Mr. al-Khayr, the Treasury noted that he also appeared on a 2009 list of 85 persons wanted by the government of Saudi Arabia, “in part, because of his role as an al-Qaeda financial facilitator”.

Issuing comments on the occasion, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey explained that after the death of Mustafa Abu al-Yazid — who served as al-Qaeda’s chief financial officer — in May this year, the U.S. government had shifted its focus to target individuals such as Mr. al-Khayr “who could step into al-Yazid’s shoes”.

Mr. Levey added, “Today’s designation of al-Khayr by the United States and the United Nations will help to ensure that that al-Qaeda remains in severe financial straits.”

Labels: Abdallah Hasan Abu-al-Khayr, Osama bin Laden, terrorism sanctions, U.S Treasury